Hard freeze and wind chills continue
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you’re out there today, you’ve probably felt it. I’m News4JAX’s meteorologist, and I’ve got to tell you—this is one of the coldest stretches we’ve felt in ages. An extreme cold warning was in effect this morning. Temperatures started in the upper teens and 20s, with wind chills dropping to the single digits in some areas. Even in the afternoon, highs are expected to reach only the low to mid 40s, but the feels-like temp? More like the 30s.
The culprit behind all this is a strong low pressure system off the Carolinas, dragging in an unusually cold Arctic air mass over northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. Our Exact Track 4D radar showed those stubborn winds out of the northwest, 20 to 25 mph and gusting higher in some areas. With these winds, it’s not just cold—it’s bitter.
As of 10:04 a.m., the official extreme cold warning expired, and a freeze warning is set to last through 12 p.m., but don’t get too comfortable. We’re expecting another deep freeze tonight and into tomorrow morning, with lows dipping into the 20s once again. The latest forecast has that pattern holding for at least a couple more nights before we even start to get close to normal.
Cold weather impact and safety tips
Let’s talk about what’s happening around our neighborhoods. Power outages and frozen pipes are an honest worry—my neighbor let me know this morning their pipes froze, and I’ve got my own faucets dripping just in case. If you’ve tried to fly out today, you already know the airport’s had delays and cancellations, mostly because of weather further north, but also thanks to crosswinds here shaking things up…